A Comparison of Food Habits of White Perch ( Morone Americana ) in the Heated Effluent Canal of a Steam Electric Station and in an Adjacent River System

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Environmental Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139307509437441· OSTI ID:4049909

Moore, C. J.; Fuller, S. L. H.; Burton, D. T.

Analysis of the stomach contents of 97 white perch, Morone americana, taken from the effluent canal of a steam electric station (S.E.S.) and 106 white perch from adjacent Patuxent River waters indicated similar food habits from September 1970 through August 1971. However, 35 percent of all white perch taken from the heated effluent canal contained small pieces of coal and cinders, whereas only 3 percent of the river specimens contained such items in their stomachs. Fly ash and coal dust are present on the bottom of the S.E.S. canal, whereas little such material, if any, can be found on the river bottom in the study area. This suggests the canal fish were actively feeding in the heated effluent and not simply moving into the canal after feeding in the river. No significant difference (P greater than 0.05) was found between the average wet weight stomach contents of the river and canal fish within the same month.

• Research Organization: Philadelphia Benedict Estuarine Research Lab., Benedict, MD
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-029170
• OSTI ID: 4049909
• Journal Information: Environmental Letters, Journal Name: Environmental Letters Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 8; ISSN 0013-9300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*FISHES-- TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
*THERMAL EFFLUENTS-- BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
520400* --Environmental Sciences
Aquatic--Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport
COAL
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD
INGESTION
N44630* --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Thermal Effluents-- Water
THERMAL POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION